The online Master of Science Urban Planning from the University of BirminghamThe online Master of Science Urban Planning from the University of BirminghamThe online Master of Science Urban Planning from the University of Birmingham

By developing the necessary skills and knowledge, we can take steps to create a more sustainable and inclusive future for all. Our online MSc Urban Planning is a flexible, career-orientated postgraduate programme that draws from a broad range of expertise, diverse perspectives, and the latest research across fields like geography, psychology, and environmental sciences. As you work through the programme, you will develop a diverse set of theoretical and practical skills, each required to tackle the complex challenges of creating sustainable and inclusive urban environments.

This online postgraduate-taught course combines our research expertise and practice-led teaching. Whether you’re already working in urban planning, architecture, or a related field – or aspire to enter this profession – you have the opportunity to advance your career with a curriculum that combines theory with practice and research to broaden your understanding of the modern urban landscape.

30-month programme

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Complete your masters degree in 30 months, part time. This enables you to balance your personal and work obligations with your professional goals.

Unique, multidisciplinary curriculum

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Gain a broad perspective and deeper understanding of urban planning with a curriculum shaped by the expertise of multiple departments.

Advice, guidance, and support at every step

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Receive the same level of support as students studying on campus – from health and wellbeing to tailored career services.

The University of Birmingham encourages applications from a diverse pool of candidates worldwide who aspire to cultivate a global outlook, strengthen their cross-cultural communication skills, and acquire the theoretical and practical skills needed to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities within the field of urban planning. 

Please note that fees are the same for UK and non-UK residents alike. The University of Birmingham is committed to providing accessible education pathways, and this fee structure enables international students to more easily access our research-informed, employability-driven courses. 

Learn more about fees and funding options.

The University of Birmingham’s online MSc Urban Planning offers a dynamic blend of theory and practice, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and research. This approach allows you to explore cutting-edge theory and research in urban change, sustainable development, and urban design. 

Through asynchronous online lectures, interactive tutorials, and engagement with faculty, industry professionals, and an international network of peers, you’ll develop practical skills, confidence, and a global perspective. Real-world case studies, masterclasses, and fieldwork opportunities also provide hands-on experience. The programme culminates in a dissertation that showcases your knowledge, analytical abilities, and commitment to ethical, social, and sustainable urban planning.

The online MSc Urban Planning covers the following modules:

• Urban Mobilities

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  Examine transportation policy development with a focus on stakeholder engagement and sustainable solutions, as well as the relevance of mobility management in both developed and developing regions. Explore local, regional, and national initiatives promoting sustainable transport through case studies and real-world examples.

• Urban Design and Place Making

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  Discover the theory and practice of urban design and place making, with a focus on spatial consequences of social, economic, and environmental change, as well as managing space and creating high-quality, inclusive places. Gain a solid understanding of these foundations while using lab work and software to develop practical, creative solutions for sustainable urban development.

• Urban Analytics for Planners

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  Gain an introduction to innovative urban analytical tools and explore their sociopolitical use and adaptation in urban planning. Examine public participation in urban analytics, considering potential disadvantages for certain groups. Additionally, learn to access and adapt data sources for specific planning needs, with introductory training on GIS, Remote Sensing, and Big Data tools.

• The Planner in Contemporary Societies

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  Examine the aims and objectives of urban planning in contemporary societies using international examples. Explore planning’s role in reflecting and shaping society, with an emphasis on a planner’s active role in a complex, value-laden environment. Develop the practice of self-reflection and the critical analysis of personal skills, knowledge, and values in relation to professional practice.

• Advanced Research Methods for Planners

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  Learn advanced research skills for dissertation projects and workplace applications. With a holistic, intersectional approach to research, explore a variety of methods, such as interviews, literature reviews, community engagement, and data analysis. Explore the need for intersectional approaches and develop skills and confidence in iterative research development, reflexivity, and data analysis across a range of settings.

• Sustainable Cities

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  Engage with contemporary debates on climate change, peak oil, and wellbeing to understand their influence on urban planning. Analyse the impact of sustainable development on spatial planning, focusing on key areas like land use, urban form, and transport, while developing skills in devising creative and sustainable planning strategies through case study analysis.

• Property Development and Development Finance

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  Explore the importance of urban planners, property development processes and the roles of public and private sector actors in urban areas. Examine property markets, financial considerations, emerging alternatives to traditional processes, and regulatory impacts. Develop an understanding of property development and learn how to generate creative solutions for sustainable urban development.

• Plan Making Studio

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  Use innovative problem-solving to apply urban planning knowledge to a real-world scenario through research, analysis, and plan making, engaging in creative, project-based work. Balance sustainability, mobility, community, health, design, and viability to develop a comprehensive urban plan that showcases careful social, economic, environmental, and political considerations. This plan will then be presented to an audience of peers, tutors, and other stakeholders.

• Planning for Healthy Cities

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  Learn about the challenges that rapidly expanding urban areas face in creating healthy cities. Explore key challenges like pollution, water quality and access, health inequalities, and child-friendly spaces. Use case studies, prior experience, and policy reviews to analyse best practices. Reflect on how to ensure that diverse communities are involved in urban planning and explore inclusive planning and integrating healthy lifestyles into post-carbon city plans.

• Smart Cities

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  Critically explore smart city solutions for problems caused by rapid urban expansion, while engaging with various approaches (e.g., environmental, transport, energy), examining technology, implementation barriers, and social implications. Explore potential downsides like surveillance and inequality and learn to identify appropriate smart city approaches, interpret data, and communicate findings and solutions effectively.

• International Planning: Systems, Frameworks, and Cultures

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  Explore the comparative and contradictory nature of planning across cultures and systems around the world. Through comparative analysis, examine planning systems in diverse country contexts, considering the legal, social, political, economic, and environmental frameworks that shape planning practice across national and local settings.

• Planning Cultural Development

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  Examine the use of cultural development as a tool for economic growth in cities around the world while exploring different approaches, the role of governments and planners, and the importance of community engagement. Explore key economic growth tools employed by city developers and their implications, while learning to critically identify and analyse the potential downsides of cultural development, such as exclusion and gentrification.

• Urban Planning Dissertation

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  With the support of a supervisor, conduct research on a chosen contemporary planning topic that addresses an original research question.

Develop a global perspective on urban planning

Gain a unique perspective on contemporary urban planning with a programme shaped by the expertise of experienced academics and practitioners, and drawing from the latest multidisciplinary research.

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Birmingham has been running Distance Learning programmes in the UK for over 25 years. As one of the largest providers of distance learning in the UK, we offer you a prestigious online education that matches the on-campus experience, taught by our same expert professors and lecturers. Programmes are designed to encourage participation and connectivity through the use of video lectures, case studies, interactive assignments, digital resources, and peer-to-peer social interaction. You have the flexibility to study from wherever you are in the world, control your daily schedule, and still benefit from the academic, wellbeing, and career support as part of our global postgraduate community.

University-provided services that are available to online students include:

University of Birmingham academic staff are forward thinking, diverse, and community orientated, encouraging bold, independent thinking and empowering students like you to turn ideas into reality. 

The online MSc Urban Planning is taught and facilitated by the same professors and faculty who teach in-person postgraduate programmes at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. As a student, you will have opportunities to work with leading academics and industry practitioners, as well as benefit from the expertise and experience of research staff and guest instructors. 

This programme focuses on applied learning to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills that are in high demand by employers in the urban planning sector, as well as the leadership and problem-solving capabilities to make a meaningful contribution to the field. 

On completion of this programme, our graduates are highly sought after – not only in traditional planning spheres, such as planning consultancies and government agencies, but also in NGOs, international organisations (e.g., World Bank/UN), and in the emerging sustainability sectors within large corporate organisations. Additionally, as more organisations and businesses turn to sustainability, there is also a growing green skills gap that needs to be filled. 

Careers you can move into with this degree include:

As well as the career preparation provided by this programme, we offer a range of employability support services including our Careers Network’s dedicated careers and employability team.

While our online MSc Urban Planning is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed for licensure with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the accreditation process is still underway. We’ll share an update once the accreditation process is complete.

Why choose an online masters degree programme from the University of Birmingham?

When you choose the University of Birmingham, you are choosing to study at an outstanding institution, renowned for changing lives and transforming society.

At Birmingham, we encourage bold, independent thinking and offer a high-quality academic experience to stretch and challenge you. By studying with us, you will be an active part of a diverse university community as you pursue your own interests and develop the career path that’s right for you.

Commonly referred to as ‘the second city’, the city of Birmingham is a vibrant and inspiring place to live, with a rich culture and diverse community. Famous for being the ‘city of a thousand trades’, Birmingham has always been a hub of innovation. For more than a century, the University of Birmingham has been forging a path of similar excellence.

As the UK’s first civic university, we were founded on a vision of social responsibility and equality of opportunity for all. Today, we are a globally ambitious institution prepared to tackle the world’s challenges, to have an international impact, and to equip you to do the same. 

As an online student, you will join a diverse global community that is an integral part of the University, while benefiting from the flexibility online education offers. We are committed to encouraging fresh perspectives, and empowering tomorrow’s leaders to translate ideas into solutions and make a lasting difference to the world. 

This is your time. The future is happening at Birmingham.

¹QS World University Rankings 2025: Top Global Universities. (2024). QS Top Universities. Retrieved 25 November 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference

²QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024. (2024). QS Top Universities. Retrieved 25 November 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote referenceReturn to footnote reference